Centrifugal machine.



J. HAMILL.

CENTRIPUGAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 191a.

Patented Bag. 1, 1914 I UNITED STATES OFFICE. I

cEnTRIrUeAL MACHINE.

App iieation filed August 19. 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES HAMILL, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Honolulu, Hawaii, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Centrifugal Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal machines and more particularly to a centrifugal machine having a fluidcontaining drum provided with a discharge valve or valves adapted to be operated by liquid under pressure developed by centrifugal action Without arresting the rotation of the drum.

According to the present invention, the discharge valve is exposed during the rotation of the drum to the pressure of the fluid contents of the drum, which pressure tends to maintain the valve in its closed position, and is adapted to be exposed at will to pressure of fluid other than the fluid contents of said drum, the pressure of which other fluid acts to move said valve to open: position against the action of fluid pressure in the drum.

The valve comprises a rigid tandem combination of piston and valve head, and is constructed as a compact self-contained unit which is secured to the outside of the drum so to be readily accessible for cleaning, removing, interchanging or repairing purposes.

The invention is illustrated by Way of ex ample in the accompanying drawing in W1 ich--- Figure 1 is a part side elevation, part vertical section showing one form of centrifugal machine fitted with a plurality of discharge valves; Fig. 2 is a part elevation, part section showing a suitable construction of valves as fitted to the centrifugal machine drum.

F or the purpose of the present illustration it is assumed that the drum revolves around a vertical axis and is driven from overhead. though it will be understood that the invention is not limited to machines of this type.

Referring to the drawing, the centrifugal machine comprises a drum 1 perforate wall and inclosed in a casing 2, which drum in practice is rotated at such speed that its" contents are forced against the said imperforate wall by censtationary Specification of Letters Patent.

having an im- Patented Dec. 1, 1914. Serial No. 785,540.

trifugal action, the said casing 2 being provided with a cover 3 and with a bed-plate 4 the bottom of which bed-plate is suitably sloped to permit the discharged material to run off to an outlet, not shown.

The drum 1 is carried on a spindle 5 which is supported at its lower end by a footstep bearing 6 secured to the bed-plate 4, the spindle 5 being adapted to be driven at its upper end by means of a motor e. g. b means of a Pelton Water motor, the casing of which is attached to the machine framing 8. Secured to the spindle 5 is a brake wheel 9 for arresting the rotation of when required.

In respect of the features above mentioned the machine is or may be considered as of usual construction.

Referring now to the features of invention, fitted to the drum 1 are valve carriers 10 (Figs. 1 and 2) equipped with valves dependent for their operation on the action of liquid under pressure developed by centrifugal force, such liquid, 0. g. water being led by means of pipes 11 communicating with anannular chamber 12 rotating with, and desirably fixed to, the drum 1. Leading to the chamber 12 is a liquid supply pipe 13 fitted with a cock l4 and connected to a delivery pipe 15 which may be led from the clean water supply main.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, each valve carrier 10 is equipped with a bearing 16 serving to support the spindle 17 of a valve head 18 entering an opening 19 in the Wall of the drum 1 and adapted normally to bear against a seat 20 aflorded between the valve head 18 and the flanged end 21 of the valve carrier secured to the drum 1. In.

screwthreaded engagement with the outer end of each valve spindle 17 is a piston 22 slidable Within a pressure chamber 23 supported by the valve carrier. The pressure chamber 23 is provided with a pressure water inlet 24 in communication with the pipe 11, and is closed by a cap 25 formed with a small orifice 26 through which the liquid contents of the annular chamber 12, pipe 11 and chamber 23 may be discharged when the supply of pressure water is cut off. Small orifices 27 behind the piston 22 permit admission or expulsion of air displaced by movement of the piston.

The operation is as follows :-When the drum 1 is rotating, the centrifugal force developed by each valve, head 18, spindle 17 the drum 1 and piston 22 suffices to keep the valve head 18 firmly pressed against its seat 20, making a tight joint as long as it is desired to retain the material in the drum 1. When it is desired, during rotation of the drum, to discharge all or part of its contents the cock 14 is opened and Water permitted to flow into the annular chamber 12. Owing to the rotation of the chamber 12, the water is forced into the pipes 11 by centrifugal force which is converted into pressure, and thence to the pressure chambers 23. The pressure of the water acting on the outer face of each piston 22 opens the corresponding valve against the centrifugal force of the valve head 18, spindle 17 etc, and against the internal pressure of the liquid or material in the machine drum--the movement of the piston 22 being limited by the shoulder 28.

It will be understood that the area of the water inlets to each pressure chamber 23 exreeds the area of the outlet through the leak orifice 26 so that the chamber 23 may be filled within a convenient time notwithstanding the leakage. When the supply of water to the pressure chamber is cut off, as by closing the cock 1%, thewater accumulated in the pressure chambers as also that in the pipes 11 and in the annular chamber 12 is discharged through the leak orifice 26.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a ro atable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve rotatable vith the drum and exposed to fluid pressure in said drum tending to maintain the valve in position to close said orifice, and means adapted to be exposed at will to pressure of fluid other than the fluid contents of said drum and acting to move said valve against the action of fluid pressure in said drum to open said orifice, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a. rotatable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve comprising a spindle led through said orifice. a valve head within said drum eX- posed to the pressure of fluid within said drum and a pressure-receiving member outside said drum, and connections for leading fluid under pressure generated by centrifugal force to act on said pressure member in opposition to the fluid pressure on said valve head, and thereby to open said orifice. I

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combina tion with a rotatable fiuidcontaining drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve exposed on one side to fluid pressure in saiddrum tending to maintain said valve in po.- sition to close said orifice, a fluid pressure generator rotatable with said drum, but cut off from communication with the interior of said drum, connections for leading to said generator at will, a supply of fluid from a source external to said drum, and

a liquid container rotatable with and cut off from communication with said drum, a pressiire chamber exterior to, and rotating With,"said drum, and means movable with said valve and acting under the influence of the pressure in said chamber to move said valve radially to open said orifice.

5. In a centrifugal machine. the combination with a rotatable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve fitted to said drum, said valve exposed to fluid pressure in said drum and normally serving to close said orifice, a liquid container rotatable with, but cut off from communication -With said drum, a pressure chamber rotatable with said drum and in communication with said container. said chamber having a. leak orifice for escape of spent pressure liquid, and means exposed to pressure of liquid in said chamber for moving the valve against the action. of fluid pressure in said drum to open said orifice.

6. In a centrifugal machine. the combination with a rotatable fluid-containing drum having a vertical wall provided with a discharge orifice. of a valve subject to the fluid pressure in said drum normally tending to close said orifice, a liquid container rotatable with. and cut oil from communication with said drum. a pressure chamber exterior to said wall and rotating with said drum. said chamber being in communication with said container, and a piston subiect to the pressure in said pressure chamber and movable against the action on the valve of the fluid pressure in said drum to shift the valve to open position.

7. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, a valve rotatable with said drum and exposed on one side to the pressure of fluid in said drum normally tending to maintain the valve in position to close said orifice, and a connection for leading at will directly to the opposite side of said valve liquid under pressure developed by centrifugal force whereby said valve is moved to open said orifice.

8. In a centrifugal machine, the combination. with a continuously rotating fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve extending outside of said drum and held normally closed by its own centrifugal force and by the fluid pressure inside said drum, and separate fluid pressure means to open said valve inwardly against the action of the valve itself and the action of the fluid pressure in the drum.

9. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a continuously rotatable drum having a discharge orifice, of a casing arranged on the outside of said drum and around said orifice, a double-faced piston valve slidably arranged in said casing, the inner face of said valve normally serving to close said orifice, and fluid pressure means acting on the outer face of said valve to move said valve inwardly to open said orifice.

10. A discharge valve for continuously rotating centrifugal machines having a fluid-containing drum, said valve comprising a rigid tandemicombination of piston and valve head, and means or operating said rigid tandem combination by centrifugal force generated outside the drum.

11. A discharge valve for continuously rotating centrifugal machine having a fluidcontaining drum, said valve comprising a rigid tandem combination of piston and valve head, the valve head being subjected to a continuous fluid pressure inside said d rum, and means for subjecting said piston at will to a separate fluid pressure greater than and acting directly opposite to the fluid pressure inside said drum.

ii. A discharge valve for continuously rotating centrifugal machine having a fluidcontaining drum, said valve comprising a rigid tandem combination of piston and valve head, the valve head being subjected to continuously acting fluid pressure tendin g to move the valve outwardly, and means for subjecting the piston at will to separate laid picssure acting to move said valve inwardly.

13. A discharge valve for continuously ro- .bination with a rotatable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, of a valve formed as a compact self-contained unit fitted on the outside of the drum, said valve being held in its closed position by the centrifugal force of the fluid .in the drum, and separate fluid pressure means acting at will to open said valve.

15. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a rotatable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, a casing mounted on the outer wall of said drum and surrounding said orifice, said casing having a closed pressure chamber and an open discharge space, the latter communicating with the discharge orifice, a piston in said pressure chamber, a valve-head inside said drum normally closing said orifice, and a valve spindle rigidly connecting said piston and said valve head.

16. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a. rotatable fluid-containing drum having a discharge orifice, a casing mounted outside said drum and over said orifice, a piston inside said casing dividing said casing into a pressure chamber and an air cushion chamber, a valve-head inside said drum normally closing said orifice, and a valve spindle rigidly connecting said piston with said valve head.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the ,presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES HAMILL.

Witnesses A. K. 'CLYMER, CARL H. BRUNS. 

